Right now, there’s a bit more fear with simple, daily tasks such as buying groceries. The fear of contamination of Covid-19 through the food we eat has been permeating our thoughts pretty consistently. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture has said there’s no certainty Covid-19 can be transmitted from food, it’s always better to be safe, even if it’s for our own peace of mind.

The goal is to remove the products from their containers without contaminating any of the food itself. Make sure you have hand sanitizer during this process, disinfecting your own hands between cleaning and sanitizing each product.

My personal advice: try to buy produce that you can cook right now; leafy greens, cabbage, broccolini, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, etc. Limit the amount of raw produce, but ensure proper cleaning techniques when eating them. Raw and cooked produce each have their own nutritional value and special qualities, so having a mixture is beautiful for a robust immune system. If you are at high-risk, it may be beneficial to only consume cooked produce.

Shopping in the grocery store:

Wipe down your cart

Commit to what you buy before picking them up.

Don’t shop if you have any respiratory symptoms, are over the age of 60, or have been exposed to the virus.

Do not use any type of disinfectant such as Clorox, Method, Mrs. Myers, etc. You should only be using food-safe cleaners made specifically to wash produce.

Bread/baked goods:

Move items like bread to clean storage containers that are prepped and ready to go, on the clean side.

Get rid of external packaging immediately.

Packaged goods with a firm exterior/thick packaging:

Spray the disinfectant directly onto the items.

Wipe of areas that human hands have touched like handles more rigorously.

Transfer items to the clean side.

Wash your hands before and after handling all groceries from the store.

Relax and enjoy your food. Remember, we are all doing the best we can. The more produce and fresh food we can enjoy, the healthier our bodies will be, and the more support our immune system will have. Don’t panic if you think you’re not doing a “good enough” job with cleaning – any effort is still a positive and successful movement towards keeping you healthy.